Texas City Refinery

safety Lesson Learned: Texas City Refinery
Location of Incident: Texas City

Brief Account of Incident
Oxygen deficient environment while working on a Resid Hydrotreater Reactor Ebulating Pump Motor overcame a BP Instrument/Electrical Technician. The RHU 200 Ebulated Bed Reactor train was shut down on 12/4/01 to replace an Eb Pump/Motor, which was damaged during a power failure. As part of the work process for replacing an Eb Pump/Motor, a nitrogen purge is maintained on the reactor train while the work is taking place. The replacement Eb Pump/Motor was in place and the I&E Technician was in the process of checking the electrical continuity on the motor when an Oxygen Deficient Environment temporarily overcame him.

The I&E Technician was evaluated by the BP Medical Staff and released to return to work with no restrictions. A Level 3 Investigation team has been formed due to the serious nature of the event. Additional findings from the investigation will be communicated when the investigation is complete.

Potential Outcome
Fatality